1300$ build i7 920

[omfgnoogies]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: within 2 weeks BUDGET RANGE: 1300-1400 after rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, movies, internet, spreadsheets, college stuff, photo editing

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: mouse, monitor, speakers, and i got the i7 920 on sale

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: whoever has the best return policy, i want no hassles COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA (new york)

PARTS PREFERENCES: none

OVERCLOCKING: maybe in the future but not right now SLI OR CROSSFIRE: in the future but not right now

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1200

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Quiet would be nice being as its going to be right next to my bed. and a Mid case would be preferable cause im sure you can guess the premium on space in manhattan. I was thinking i would grab a 5850 but with the recent price changes if i can fit a 5870 in there, by all means. As long as im not trading out quality parts.

 

[snakej]

so you have $1400 but you already grabbed the 920, and u dont need a monitor right??..$1,300 should be plenty, ill be back with a list of parts and some imput.

 

[omfgnoogies]

yea, monitor is a gift and i already bought the 920. So my remaining budget is 1300

 

[snakej]

CPU: i7 920 IMO you already have

Motherboard: ASUS P6T LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $239.99
Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131359

Memory: G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ - Retail $134.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231225

HSF:CORSAIR CWCH50 Water Cooler - Retail $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181009
In order to help keep thing quiet as u requested, but without losing performance

VGA: ASUS EAH5870/G/2DIS/1GD5/A Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity - Retai $389.99
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5256798&SRCCODE=GOOGLEBASE&cm_mmc_o=VRqCjC7BBTkwCjCECjCE

HHD: 2x SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
$49.99 each = $99.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail $169.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010

Case: Thermaltake ElementS VK60001N2Z Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $119.90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133077
Also to help make things quiet, but without losing performance.

DVD: SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 22X DVD-R 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner LightScribe Support - OEM $32.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151188

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You didnt mention anything about an OS so I included one
OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64 $109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116677

Thermal Paste: Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound $6.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

Grand Total: $1429... then again if you dont need the os you fall right back to $1300

 

[omfgnoogies]

i did the student windows 7 thing so i should be getting it the day w7 comes out. Ill just order a cd.
Is there gonna be any tradeoff with the water cooler vs a noctua or a xigmatek?

what if i switched for the coolermaster 690 case?

 

[snakej]

yes those are viable options, the reason I included the H50 and the elements was to make it nearly silence, but u can look into the antec 300 illussion or the 690 as you said or the HAF 922 is currently for $99 at the egg, also the xigmatek dark knight offers the best value, currently retailing for just 44.99 free shipping, the Noctua NH-U12P isnt quite bad, but too big and noisy ( http://www.youtube.com/user/tjharlow#play/uploads/0/lWxaCyUwEgo )

 

[cory1234]

Look around for better deals..I would never pay $170 for a ps. I just bought a 700w OCZ modular ps for $50 after MIR. I would also stay away from cheap water cooling setups..you would be better off getting a quality air cooler such as the Prolimatech Megahalems. Depending on how much you game you might want to consider dropping down to a 5850 to fit a SSD drive like the OCZ vertex or Intel.

 

[omfgnoogies]

so the corsair cooler isnt something i should rely on? forget price in the corsair vs a xigmatek, all i want to know is the performance comparison? cause i wouldnt mind spending the extra 30 for some quiet.

 

[snakej]

1st dont listen to cory, PSU is one of the most important components in a pc, quality before quantity, $50 for a 700w, if it works, congratz, but dont come posting if ur PSU die and take along all your main components.

the H50 is new stuff, its performance is around the most expensive air coolers in the market, but without the size and noise problem, maybe this will help http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/corsair-h50-fort120,2370-6.html

 

[omfgnoogies]

Name brand psu is a must. I hear horror stories from people who try to shave pennies off there.

 

[cory1234]

OCZ is a quality namebrand power supply. Don't listen to some fool telling you that you "need" a $170 ps. I have had 3 diff OCZ power supplies while overclocking. The one that died on me during a storm was replaced by OCZ...better yet they replaced it with a higher end model. They ended up giving me a $200 ps because mine was out of stock and they wanted to get it to me fast. All I'm saying is there are plenty of namebrand power supplies with the same wattage that you can easily find for around $100.
If silence is your primary concern you might want to check out the Scythe Orochi cooler. It is silent sitting right next to it. You can check it out at frostytech.com under top 5 quietest coolers. The h-50 sounds like exactly what I would have guessed...sure it might be quiet, but it's a cheap water cooler and does not perform good.

 

[omfgnoogies]

I was actually thinking of going with this for the psu but i can understand spending a little more for the cable management. So OCZ make quality PSUs?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

also, why would you pick the asus ati card over the xfx? anything particular or just tomato tomato

 

[snakej]

I was actually thinking of going with this for the psu but i can understand spending a little more for the cable management. So OCZ make quality PSUs?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

also, why would you pick the asus ati card over the xfx? anything particular or just tomato tomato

I leave the memory making to OCZ, there PSU quality isn't up there yet, although they have good products they also charge you premium for there good PSU, Corsair is leading the "Best Bang for the Buck" section, and then you got the most reliable companies that have been doing PSU for quite a long time like:
Lian-li
Silverstone
Antec
notice that not even thermaltake or cooler master are included in the list, and it doesn't necessarily mean that they dont make a good product, its just mean that if corsair charge you $129, these other companies will charge you $150 for a product of the same quality.

About the video card,Well its up to you the "OP" to chose the name brand of you licking, but for some reason i believe a ASUS card works really well with an ASUS motherboard, because I know all there testing is done with there own name brand, also going with one company give you the facility with working with the same people in case of troubleshooting instead of calling ASUS and the XFX you can just call ASUS.
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"About the video card,Well its up to you the "OP" to chose the name brand of you licking",....lmao licking edit that, i meant liking..lolz

 

[deadcell]

Snakej is right about the psu. This is where you don't want to go cheap. Quality is the focus here and always look for continues power wattage rather than peak power. Moduler is a must, but if you go with the great performer ones, this comes standard. You can't go wrong with Corsair, PC Power and Cooling, or my favorite, Thermaltake. I have the Thermaltake TR2 RX 850W (retailed 150.00 USD) and it handles my GTX295 and the other components at ease with some leftovers. You don't have to spend gobbs of money here, at the same time, don't sink too low. As for cooling, the Corsair is an excelent choice. Don't take my words for it, do the research recommended to you earlier. If you want to go with air, I have the Thermaltake Spin-Q, right around the same price that performs so pleasently and quite too. Just take recommendations, do your own research and consider all routs before purchase. Finally, I second the 5870. Go with this card or wait for Nvidia 300 series coming this December.
p.s. Best return policy.hassle free site? Best Buy. Buy online, return in store. If they have your product, buy from them. Higher price? Price match garentee. They won't do it? Yell at them, trust me, it works...

 

[omfgnoogies]

tomshardware is my computer bible. Thanks a ton you guys, this is all extremely helpful.

Deadcell i checked the ratings for the corsair liquid cooled thing, and it says like 50 degrees which isnt so bad but i hear alot of people say megahalems would blow it out of the water. literally. what about this setup http://www.petrastechshop.com/pecoli.html

 

[snakej]

hmm, ill stick with the H50, save yourself some money and trouble, i mean unless you have lots of experience putting together a water cooling kit, otherwise i wont recommended, Also who ever said the H50 was a cheap water cooler, i dont want to mention any names as i dont think cory1234 will like that, any ways the H50 inst a cheap Liquid colling system, otherwise i wouldn't recommend it, I dont know why some people post here with such an authority:

OCZ is a quality namebrand power supply. Don't listen to some fool telling you that you "need" a $170 ps. I have had 3 diff OCZ power supplies while overclocking. The one that died on me during a storm was replaced by OCZ...better yet they replaced it with a higher end model. They ended up giving me a $200 ps because mine was out of stock and they wanted to get it to me fast. All I'm saying is there are plenty of namebrand power supplies with the same wattage that you can easily find for around $100. If silence is your primary concern you might want to check out the Scythe Orochi cooler. It is silent sitting right next to it. You can check it out at frostytech.com under top 5 quietest coolers. The h-50 sounds like exactly what I would have guessed...sure it might be quiet, but it's a cheap water cooler and does not perform good.

look I dont come here and start posting messages because i hear this and that, true is Computer hardware is my passion and I actually sit for many hours and reseach so i can be of assist to people like omfgnoogies

i wont say more here is the review of the H50 http://www.guru3d.com/article/corsair-h50-cpu-cooler-review/ .Is either that or a good Air cooler from this list http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm

 

[omfgnoogies]

last question
i have heard many many good things about this mother board
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157163

would the build still be good if i stuck this in there instead of the asus seeing as its like 80$ cheaper

 

[snakej]

No i don't recommend Asrock, at least not for x58 chipset, the X58 is premium for a high end system, high end and cheap dont mix, so dont go cheap on the mobo as the mobo, cpu and VGA are where the money should be put, since everything I put is in yor budget of 1,300 dont change anything, but if you no longer have this budget for "X" reason get the corsair 750w non modular and the Cooler Master Haf 922, this will save you some money, but please if going to chage anything, the only thing you cant change is the Cpu, but that you already have, the motherboard and VGA, the hard drive i put 2, if don't need more the 500gb just get one, also the best hard drive right now, cant get a better one, memory, you might get cheaper set, but that Gskill will save you some problems as i know is very reliable.

 

[deadcell]

Hi omfgnoogies. I don't know too much about liquid cooling to dispute what is being said here. The one you hyperlinked seems solid. The corsair temp. at 50 degrees, if thats on mid to heavy load with no oc, thats an impressive performance. I read idles of 35-40 and heavy load of 70 (at 3.4+). Its just seems like a best buy for its performance/value. Go with the H50. And guess what, Best Buy sells the H50 now, at lease where I am. Buy from them if you can. Hassle free money back if you don't like it. Also, check out this cooling fluid at www.crazypc.com. Its called Feser One F1 Cooling Fluid. Its anticorrosive, none-electrical conductive and contains anti-algae properties to keep tubes clean. If this thing leaks, it won't take out any components. Comes in many colors in 1L bottles for 18.99. I read and researched this for you reading my CPU mag and their website. Best of luck on your built...
deadcell

 

[omfgnoogies]

much appreciated bro thanks so much. if i can change the fluid in the h50 that will definitely be the route i go

 

[omfgnoogies]

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=8010769

here is the the final build im looking at.

just add the asus 5870 from tiger direct linked above. Anyone got any issues with this? Anything i should know? does the vid card fit in the case?
If the 5870 fits in the cm690 please let me know!

 

[snakej]

I would really apreciate if you were to go with the memory and hard drive i linked above, also i have got a question for you,

Are you a Extreme overclocker? do you have lots of experience when comes to overclocking?

If yes, good choice on the cooler, pretty sure you will know how to use it.

if no, then that cooler is not for you, you are spending to much and you wont se the benefits from it, i know a couple of ppl who would put an airplane turbine if they could in order to cold their processor, but they also are insane overclockers who don't care for noise, and i never seem them keep their computer for every day use, so what they consider super good it isn't for us, people who actually work and leave around where the computer is at.

about the video card, clear and good to go, no problems there.

 

[omfgnoogies]

not an extreme overclocker but my friend has one (noctua) and he says its extremely quiet. You make it out to be pretty loud lol

this is my first custom build and eventually i will be overclocking so i wanted some room to grow. the reason i went with the western dig is cause the HDs you linked me were 16mb cache and this one is 32. If that is really insignificant i dont mind changing it. And the only reason i went with the ocz is cause the timings seemed high. If both of those things mean amount to about nothing i will happily revert back.

 

[snakej]

lol, it isn't that loud, but you can pay a lot less, for similar performance, i know many people here in the forums will agree with me, but i guess you have the money, so go ahead, about the hard drive is just old technology, the Samsung f3 is faster regardless of the 16mb cache.

 

[omfgnoogies]

ah thanks, that answers that